Vented closure



Sept. 12, 1950 D. H. BIERMAN 2,521,773

VENTED GLOSURE Filed July 12, 1945 INVENTOR. DAN/4 I'LB/ERMAN A TTO'RNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT VENTED CLOSURE Daniel H. Bierman, Malverne, N. Y. Application July12, 1945, Serial No. 604,706 I 2 Claims.

This invention relates to tanks or tank installations and to means associated therewith for use in ascertaining the condition of the tank in respect to the quantity of liquid therein.

In certain tank installations, for example fuel oil below-deck supply tank installations in ships, dry docks, etc., the tank is disposed at a low level and is provided With a filling pipe which extends to a higher level, a venting pipe which extends from the tank to a proper level, and a fitting comprising a tube extending into the tank through which a liquid-depth measuring device such as a sounding-measuring rod or a chain carrying a float may be inserted into the tank for ascertaining the depth or quantity of fuel oil therein, the outer end of the tube through which the measuring device is inserted being normally closed in fiuid tight fashion by a removable cap. Ordinarily, in tank installations of the character described the outer end of the tube and the cap thereon is disposed at a level substantially lower than that of the upper ends of the filling and vent pipes, for example at the machinery deck of the ship or dry dock. Accordingly, it frequently happens that when the tube sealing cap is removed from the measuring tube oil is forced out of the outer end of the measuring tube, thus resulting in oil wastage and also in splashing of oil on the machinery deck or on the machinery as well as i on those in the vicinity and also creating a fire hazard.

The primary object of the present invention,

" therefore, is to provide means by which it can be In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is avertically sectional iew of a device embodying the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the ine 2-2 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and artly in section illustrating the operation o'f the device; I P

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating'more or lessdiagrammatically a tank installationincludingfthe present invention.

the condition of the tank is such that oil will be forced out of the measuring tube if the sealing cap is removed. In other words, the means provided in accordance with the present invention enables one to readily determine whether the tank is filled or at least partly empty thus obviating the objections and disadvantages hereinbefore referred to and in addition obviating the loss of time and efiort required in measuring the contents of a full tank.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of simple construction and operation for accomplishing the above mentioned primary object of the invention.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Referring now to the drawings'in detail, the tank installation comprises, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a fuel oil or other liquid-containing tank T which is disposed at a low level, for example in the lower. part of a ship or dry dock. Said tank T is provided with a filling pipe II] which extends to a higher level L at which it is provided with a removable filling cap [2. A vent pipe-M jjwith which the tank is provided extends upwardly'from the tank to a suitable point normally at a higher level thanthat of theupper end of the fillingpipe H1. The tank is also provided witha sounding tube IS in which the measuring device (not shown) is positioned or throughwhichithemeasuring device is inserted for ascertainingthelevel of the liquid in the tank. The lower 'end'oftube I6 is open whereby said tube is in fluid-flow communication with the interior of' the tank. 'The upper end of said tube terminates atalevl-ubstantially below the upper end of "the fillingpipe. For example, in a ship or dry dock the upp'e'r 'end of the measuring tube [6 maybe about '23'feet below the deckor level L at which theupp end of filling pipe I0 is positioned. I H l i I In accordance with the present invention," the upper end of said measuring tube l6 'isjprovided with a fitting I8 which includes a removable cap 2!] which provides a fluid seal for the upper end of sounding tube [6. It will be understood'that when the tank ,T is filledwith air, oil or other liquid air is compressedin the upper part'ofj the sounding tube It and that the degreefof compression is in proportion to the hydrostatic head of the oil or other liquid in the tank plu s the hydrostatic head of the oil or other liquid which may be present in pipes l0 and I4 which, asillustrated in Fig. 4, a re shown to have oilthferein up to the points 22 and 24, respectively. I t. will be noted that the sealing cap .20 isualtthelevel of the machinery deck D- sothat it canbe' conveniently removed to permit the insertionof the measuring device for ascertaining the quantity of oil or other liquid in the tank. The construction and operation of the fitting l8 whereby to accom- 3 plish the objects of th present invention will now be described.

The device or fittin l8 embodying the present invention comprises a part here shown as a pipe iwith the interior. of cap,2li but, is, disposedout- -=wardly Ofvthe tubeesealing part of. gasket .32 so that said inner end of the passagesis out oi communioation with tube 28 when thecapiii is in i itsjully-clnsed or tube-sealingiposition and so of coupling 26 by a nut 48 threaded on to bushing 28. Splash cup 46 is preferably provided with drain ports 50. The head 34 of cap 28 is provided as here shown with a lug 52 in which an co p 26 which s SC W On 110 t p r end 5 operating bar or handle 54 is secured to facilitate of sounding tube 1 6 and is internally threaded at the tur in f cap as s I P d An externahy threaded tube or It will be understood that various changes in bushin 8 is s w d int h pp end 2? o the details of construction and in the arrangeco p The pp r end 353 Of bushing 23 ment of parts may be made in the device of the d r e t er e--1eetherorether suiteblegas w present'invention without;departing from the ket or 'packinsifl-carried by- -se n 1 underlying idea or principles thereofwithin the 20. Said gasket or tube-sealing part 32 is held cope of th appended claims against the inner surface of the head 34 ofthe Having t described my in ent t 1 p y e D Screw a d interposed Washer claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 3 S e S w p screw 36 is pr vi wi l5 1. A device of the character described comprisan opening 40 to receive the endncomi fi 0f ing an upright tube and a cap mounted on the a measuring chain (I101? shown, w l h 1111- top end of said tube for movement thereon from derstO d tha the pp lower end of the a tube-sealing position to a retracted position, chain has a float connected thereto so that when said cap having a t part hich enga es a d the p is removed the qui level may be de- 20 seals the tube in the first mentioned position of termined by withdrawing Bo S f S-C ,theoap andhaving a fluid passageextending ai l: t ness, therein, is elimina e This downwardly wholly within the cap body from the yp of u in fd v e s well known a d s it interior to the exterior of the cap, the inner end does, not ini s e s at P h the present of said passage being out of communication with invention, illustration or furtherdescription t t when aid cap is in said tube-sealing r hereof is unnecess y, It W be =l1nder5t00d, position and being in communication with, said h0N B that h measullhg Phaln Can he tube when said cap is in said retracted position, Pmltted l l e a mefisulmg d c be and a splashcup surrounding said tube and posit ni s t m the .m asu et 46, when n 28 tioned below the outer end of said passage to reis removed, for'ascertaining the level of the liquid ceive the fluid discharged therefrom.

1n the tank. Y Y 2. A device of the character described, compris- Ini the Presentimlention the ing an upright tube having an externally threadpfifipheraliskirt 42 of cap 29 isiprovidei h one ed top end, and a cap internally threaded so as ;.0l'-m h sh w a a ur v e hr e p to be mountable on the top' end iii-said tube for ,5 dag Which eXtend d w w -t n m movement thereon from a tube-sealingposition i -,rpoi nfis,adjac o amibelOW the Outer marginal to a retracted position, said-cap having a top part .Q Portion 93 5 1301 the lower end of which engages and seals the topend'of saidtube ,the Skirt. c relief passage 44 d P in the first mentioned position of said cap and w rd y 7 t e internally- SCFEW thl'eadedr-surface having a" fluid passage extending downwardly 45- 1ft The upperor inner endofeeach 40 wholl within the capbody from the interior to the-exterior of the cap,athe inner endlof said ipassage being out of communication; with the tube when said cap is in-said tube-sealing position and being in communication with the tependofsaid tube when said cap is'in said retracted position,

and a ring-shaped splash cup surrounding said ":i'ihatsaid innerend of .thepassagais placed in f' w" communication with tube h said passage to receive the fluid discharged therefrom, shghtlrunscrewed retracted-t0 a posithe inner wallof saidring-shaped splash cupboi--tion in which itis out of complete. tubeesealing mg mrmedbysaid tube I ;enga gement on tube. 28. It will. be understood I DAmI, BERMAN thatifgthe rcap lfl is unsorewed sufficiently to v;;--=b1 1,eal, the fluid sealprovided between gasket 32 -and; upper .edge..30 of tube orbushing .28, when the tank T is filledaor substantially. filled, fluid will; -flow-throughthe, relief passages 44. More --specifical1y,. when the ,cap 20 is .turnedslightly tube and positioned below-the outer'endofsaid REFERENCES CITED 2 The iollowingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Mon tube .28- to start the unscrewing thereof from Name [Date said tubeiandthetank T is filled or substantially 70,450 i McAvOyet a1 v 5,1357 ,1fi a werninelof euchiwndition of the tank to 421,732 Lewis et al Feb 18,1890 will beigiven first by releaseiof air from theupper 699,199 Lockwood wMay 6, v1902 part of. sounding tube-J 5 through passages M fol- 1,223,235 ,Bieker May 29; 1917 .glowedsubstantially,immediatelyi by the flow of 1,639,191 Ashev Oct 30,1923

- well or other liquid through said passages as illus- 1,327,574 Frazier 13, 1931 wtratednin Fig. 3. It will Joe-noted, by reference '65 2,237,750 clayten Jun 23, 1942 vt -v h e sm qu n i y of oil h 2,3 7,2 Grifith Jan 5 194,3 ,,.allowed to escape from thetank is directed down- .wardly and is, thus prevented from flowing up- FOREIGN PATENTS inwardly on to the operator of the device or on to Number Country Date the-deck D. Preferably, as here shown-the de- 1,590 Great Britain of' 1855 .vice of the present invention is, provided with a 169,896 Switzerland Mar. 1', 1935 splash cup 46 which is secured on the upper end 5%,7'73 Germany Feb. 9, 1932 

